A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Brooke, Frances
BROOKE, FRANCES,
Whose maiden name was Moore, was the daughter of an English clergyman, and the wife of the Rev. John Brooke, rector of Colny, in Norfolk, of St. Augustine in the city of Norwich, and chaplain to the garrison of Quebec. She was as remarkable for her gentleness and suavity of manners as for her literary talents. Her husband died on the 21st. of January, 1789, and she herself expired on the 26th. of the same month, at Sleaford, where she had retired to the house of her son. Her first literary performance, was the "Old Maid," a periodical work, begun in November, 1755, and continued every Saturday until about the end of July, 1756. In the same year she published "Virginia," a tragedy, with odes, pastorals, and translations. In the preface to this publication she assigns as a reason for its appearance, "that she was precluded from all hopes of ever seeing the tragedy brought upon the stage, by there having been two so lately on the same subject." Prefixed to this publication were proposals for printing by subscription a poetical translation with notes, of "Il Pastor Fido," a work which was probably never completed.
From 1763 to 1788, Mrs. Brooke published many novels and dramas, and other works. Her most popular play was "Rosina," acted at Covent Garden in 1782. Few pieces have been equally successful. The simplicity of the story, the elegance of the language, and the excellence of the music, caused it to be admired for a long time. Her last work was "Marian," acted in 1788, at Covent Garden, with some success, but very much inferior to "Rosina."